My plan all along had always been to release the game only when it was completely finished, so as to perfect everything before it is played for the first time.

However... recently I have been thinking it may be more suitable to use an early access development model, due to the size of the game, the time it is taking to develop and also to provide some extra feedback during development.

Tentative features for the first early access release

I have made a list of the minimum amount of features that I would be prepared to release the first early access version of the game with. Most of the items on the list are near complete or at least half way done.

Random galaxy generation

Planets, asteroids and trade resources

At least one playable faction

Colonisation

Basic empire management

Population management and migration

Colony buildings

Asteroid mining

Research

Ship design, production and reserves stockpile

Essential ship modules, ship hulls and research projects

Galaxy exploration and jumpgate travel

Ship AI and combat

Fleet hierarchy and orders

Pirate faction

I think this would provide enough gameplay and most importantly replayability to begin with, allowing players to build up huge empires in a mostly unpopulated galaxy. Computer factions will come later in development when they are completely ready. The pirate factions will be there to provide some threat and encounters, and to see how ship battles work.

I don’t have a definite time frame for when the first early access version will be yet, and of course some features may change or additional things added depending on how things go.

Features that will be added gradually afterwards

Computer factions and high level AI

Diplomacy, wars and trading

Planetary invasions

Fighters and carrier ship types

Fleet hierarchy leader characters

More races, factions, research projects, ship and module types

Salvaging

Revolts

More TBD…

Once the first early access version is released, development will continue for a long time afterwards. All of the remaining features will be added (assuming they don’t need to be significantly redesigned at some point) plus everything extra I have planned for Galaxial.

I really thought this game was dead. I don't think your programming speed is ideal for EA. People expect regular updates and progress being made. I think you're better off just finishing this whenever you finish and releasing.

Honestly fella I have been following you from the very start and I have to say you have developed what looks to be one cracking game. I really do think that if you put this on Early Access your career and future will be fulfilled. Great Job. Looking forward to losing time on this one

I would be very interested to participate on this project in any ways possible. Financially, bug hunting, feedback giving...

I have been following the project for years and am super happy it is still going on.

The game looks really awesome and as a fellow game dev it has been an inspiration for me to work on my own side projects. Keep up the good work.

Hi, thank you very much! I'm glad you like the look of it

No news yet, but I'm making good progress and currently working through the list in the first post. I would like to have most of the 'fun' and important gameplay features finished before the first early access version is released and opened up for participation.

to be fair i had a lot of entertainment already that would definitely fill my 1buck/hour of entertainment treshhold for "not a bad expense" with galaxial (-Development updates) to make it worthwhile to pay some EA price.sooo...

Mainly because I have been working on the game part-time, otherwise I wouldn't be able to afford living costs.Early access (if it does happen) will mean it becomes full time and my only focus.

As much as I do encourage you to go with Early Acces (important point to note - I do not know how agreement looks betwen game developer and steam, so there is plenty that I simply do not know here), I strongly suggest that you won't make plans such as above.

You can not assume blindly that revenue from buyers will be good eoungh for you to stop any other earning activity. Better play it safe, and do not make risky decisions without making sure that risk is somewhat limited and that there is PLAN B just in case.

Those were just my 2 cents. Having said that... I am looking foward to seeing this game in action and I honestly think and hope that it will be succesfull from first moments of EA (not to mention amount of feedback that you will be able to collect!).